What does "nose out" mean (sense 1)?

To discover or uncover information through careful searching or investigation. Example: "An investigative reporter nosed out the truth about the company's financial irregularities."

What does "nose out" mean (sense 2)?

To defeat a rival by a very small margin, as in a race or competition. Example: "The favourite nosed out the challenger by just half a second in the final race."

What does "nose out" mean (sense 3)?

To move forward slowly and carefully, especially a vehicle easing out into traffic. Example: "She nosed the car out of the tight parking space very slowly."

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nose out

B2 informal separable transitive

To discover information by careful searching, or to defeat a rival by a very small margin.

In plain English

To find out something by looking carefully, or to win by just a tiny bit.

What does "nose out" mean?

3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.

1 B2 idiomatic informal

uncommon

To discover or uncover information through careful searching or investigation.

"An investigative reporter nosed out the truth about the company's financial irregularities."

separable

2 B2 idiomatic informal

uncommon

To defeat a rival by a very small margin, as in a race or competition.

"The favourite nosed out the challenger by just half a second in the final race."

separable

3 B1 neutral

common

To move forward slowly and carefully, especially a vehicle easing out into traffic.

"She nosed the car out of the tight parking space very slowly."

separable

Literal vs figurative

Words literally mean

To use one's nose to find something by scent, or for a nose to be the first body part past the finish line.

Actually means

To find out something by looking carefully, or to win by just a tiny bit.

Usage tip

Has two main senses: investigative (to uncover information) and competitive (to beat someone by a narrow margin). Both are used in journalism and sports reporting. The competitive sense evokes a horse race where a nose separates winner from runner-up.

Words that pair with "nose out"

Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.

secret truth information rival competition winner

How to conjugate "nose out"

The five tense forms you'll use most often.

Base

nose out

I/you/we/they

3rd person

noses out

he/she/it

Past simple

nosed out

yesterday

Past participle

nosed out

have + pp

-ing form

nosing out

continuous

Hear "nose out" in the wild

Listen to native speakers using "nose out" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.

Other ways to say "nose out"

Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.

discover edge out ferret out pip at the post sniff out uncover

Keep exploring

Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.

All phrasal verbs with "nose" All phrasal verbs with "out" More B2-level phrasal verbs